Chapter 14: Shadows of the Forgotten Forest

The Hidden Sovereign: Beyond Fate

The expedition continued east for three more days.

The roads became narrower.

The villages disappeared.

The deeper they traveled, the quieter the world became.

Even the birds no longer sang.

Garrick stopped and examined the ground.

"There are footprints."

Lucien knelt beside him.

"Monsters?"

Garrick shook his head.

"No..."

"They're human."

---

Helena stepped forward.

"Everyone stay alert."

"This is the Forgotten Forest."

"It earned its name because travelers enter..."

"...but many never leave."

A chill ran through the group.

Fenrir growled softly.

His silver fur stood on end.

Even he sensed something lurking among the ancient trees.

---

As they entered the forest, a thick mist rolled across the ground.

Visibility dropped to only a few meters.

Lyra tightened her grip on her staff.

"I don't like this..."

Elena moved closer to Abster.

"Stay close."

Abster nodded.

"Don't worry."

"We'll make it through."

His calm voice eased everyone's nerves.

---

Suddenly—

SWOOSH!

An arrow shot out of the fog.

CLANG!

Lucien deflected it just in time.

"Ambush!"

Dark figures leaped from the trees.

Bandits.

Nearly twenty of them.

Their leader laughed.

"Hand over your valuables..."

"...and maybe we'll let you live."

Garrick stepped forward.

"You've chosen the wrong people."

The bandit leader smirked.

"We've killed adventurers before."

Abster noticed something unusual.

The bandits' eyes glowed with a faint crimson light.

"They're being controlled..."

---

The battle erupted.

Lucien clashed with two swordsmen.

Lyra cast wind blades to keep the archers back.

Elena used holy magic to shield the group.

Garrick knocked enemies aside with his massive greatsword.

Abster avoided killing blows, striking weapons from their hands instead.

One bandit charged at Elena from behind.

She didn't see him.

"Princess!"

Without thinking, Abster rushed forward.

CLANG!

The bandit's blade struck Abster's shoulder armor.

Before the attacker could react, Abster disarmed him with a quick twist and knocked him unconscious.

Elena stared at him.

"You protected me..."

Abster smiled.

"I told your father I'd bring everyone home."

For a brief moment...

Elena felt her cheeks grow warm.

She quickly looked away.

"...Thank you."

Lyra noticed the exchange but said nothing.

Instead, she focused on finishing the battle.

---

Moments later...

The last bandit fell unconscious.

Not one had been killed.

Garrick looked around in surprise.

"You spared every one of them."

Abster knelt beside the unconscious leader.

The crimson glow in the man's eyes faded.

He slowly opened them.

"W-Where am I?"

"You don't remember?" Abster asked.

The man looked confused.

"The last thing I remember..."

"...was hearing someone whisper in the darkness."

Helena's expression darkened.

"Mind manipulation."

"This wasn't an ordinary ambush."

---

As the group searched the camp, Lyra found an old map hidden inside a wooden chest.

"Helena!"

The Guild Master examined it.

The map showed the route to Nox Aeterna.

Someone had marked it with fresh ink.

"They knew we were coming..."

Lucien frowned.

"So we're expected."

Abster looked toward the eastern horizon.

"If Lord Zarek wanted to kill us..."

"...he's had plenty of chances."

"Which means..."

Elena finished his sentence.

"He wants us to reach the ruins."

A heavy silence settled over the group.

---

That night...

The expedition camped near an ancient stone bridge.

Most of the group rested after the day's battle.

Unable to sleep, Elena walked to the river.

She found Abster sitting alone on a rock, quietly watching the water.

"You always find the quietest places."

Abster laughed softly.

"And you always find me."

Elena smiled.

For a while, neither spoke.

The sound of the river was enough.

Finally, Elena broke the silence.

"Back at the palace..."

"I thought strength meant defeating your enemies."

She looked at him.

"But today..."

"You saved everyone."

"Even the people trying to kill us."

Abster skipped a small stone across the water.

"My father used to say..."

He paused.

"...Actually..."

"I don't remember who taught me that."

He frowned.

"There are pieces of my past I can't reach."

Elena gently placed a hand on his arm.

"Then we'll find them."

"Together."

Abster looked at her.

For the first time since arriving in Aetherion...

He realized he wasn't walking this path alone.

Above them, the stars shone brightly.

Hidden among the trees, a hooded figure watched the pair before quietly disappearing into the darkness.

"The threads of fate..."

"...are beginning to change."

---

End of Chapter 14

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